The brain of an infant may be the blank tablet envisaged by Locke, but as it is shaped by both experience and language it develops into the mind of an adult. As the character of the ma-turing individual becomes defined, the mind shapes experiences decreasingly according to immediate stimuli themselves and increasingly according to linguistic interpretations of and emo-tional reactions to perceptions.

Stress is a common predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factor of psychological and physical illnesses. Various studies have shown a beneficial role of having a meaning in life with regards to stress. There are no local studies available that have studied the correlation between the two constructs of perceived stress and meaning in life, in the Pakistani population. Therefore this study aims to determine correlation between scores of MIL scale and scores of Stress, in undergraduate students. A total of 254 undergraduate students were selected as respondents in the study. They were assessed for perceived stress and meaning in life using Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Purpose in Life Scale (PIL) respectively. It was a cross sectional study, demographic and clinical variables were collected via a Performa. On average females scored higher (M = 2.20, SD = 0.70) than males (M = 1.78, SD = 0.52,) on perceived stress. While males scored (M = 3.57, SD = 0.55) significantly t (244) = 4.69, p <.05) higher on purpose in life questionnaire as compared to females (M = 3.21, SD = 0.69). Correlation coefficient was found to -0.52 representing a significant negative correlation between the two variables. R2 came out to be 0.27 signifying that 27 % of the variance in perceived stress is accounted by meaning in life. There is a strong correlation between meaning in life and perceived stress. Further it was also found that female gender was more vulnerable to stress and less likely to score high on meaning in life. Conversely male gender was more likely to score higher on meaning in life and lower on perceived stress.

There are increasing worries in many countries worldwide especially in Cameroon as concern the abusive consumption of tramadol and its addictive effects. Experiences within the family have a major influence on the wellbeing of its members, be it child, adolescent or adult. This is what spurred us to question other factors which have harmful effects on those abusing tramadol. This article aims to find how adolescents who have the necessary requirements for an adapted development seek satisfaction in abusive tramadol consumption. The objective was to understand the meaning adolescents who abusively consumes tramadol associate to their family life experiences and also bring out practical information on how adolescent’s emotional needs are met. We conducted a clinical study on three adolescents who abusively consume tramadol at the Psychiatric unit of Jamot Hospital Yaounde. Data was collected using semi- structured interview guide. Data collected was analyzed using thematic content and sequential analysis. The results were interpreted mainly based on the attachment theory which has shown that family life experiences are the association and negative interpretations of events experienced by these adolescents. These experiences have engendered a lacking state which the adolescents try to overcome by abusively consuming tramadol. Finding also indicated that family life experiences lead to the difficulties in managing negative counter-transference reactions which interferes with their ability to provide secured based. Perspectives for this research highlighted the lack of research exploring the rate of tramadol abusive consumption in the rural area and the end comparing their prevalence rates.

Background/Objective: The aim of the current study was to examine factors that may be related yet independently predict self-harming behaviors. Method: Factors discussed include depression, rumination, self-criticism, and working memory. Results: The findings indicated that while there was a greater incidence of self-harming behaviors among those who demonstrated higher depressive symptoms, depression scores did not directly predict self-harm. A binary logistic regression found that the only factor that predicted the presence of self-harming behavior was a high level of self-criticism. Further, a Classification and Regression Tree found that the single strongest predictor of self-harming behavior was a belief that love needs to be continually earned from others. Conclusions: The findings have implications for improving the efficacy of interventions aimed at preventing self-harm. Treatments incorporating ways to reduce self-criticism, such as a focus on improving self-compassion with Compassionate Mind Training, may address underlying mechanisms that can trigger self-harm behavior.